I've always preferred to work for people, not for businesses, and one of the best decisions I ever made was to work for Terry and Don Gamer at Gamer Publishing in the late '80's. They were both warm, generous people who shared their love and talent with all of their staff and were highly valued and many people just loved to work for them. Looking back on that time I recognise it as the first chance I had, in my late '20's, to stretch my talents, to see just how far I could go and how much I could learrn and that experience has led up to my own launch of Hartford Woman Online last month.

When I contacted Terry, now the CEO of Womego, about using her publication's name as a base for my own venture, not only did she generously say "Go ahead" she also met with me and gave me some wonderful tips and advice. One thing I will never forget, Terry told me about her own trepidation at launching her magazine almost 30 years ago. Her husband, Don, ever the optimist, said: "Back when they invented ice cream, no one knew any better, so they thought vanilla was great. You are the first one to do this - they will think it's great - the other flavors will come later." Don's words, in Terry's voice, have been in my head ever since. Whenever I'm not quite sure Hartford Woman Online will "work" - I just think about Don and his ice cream story. (Editor's note: We all lost Don in 2006 due to a tragic accident. He is missed by one and all.)

Terry also generously contributed this statement about the new venture:

"I published Hartford Woman Newspaper in October 1981 and as it turned out it was the first local woman's publication in the country. There are now more than 500 local women's publications reaching 36 million women.

Kate LaFrance worked for me during that period of my career, and when she approached me with the concept of an online publication for women in the Hartford community, I thought it was a magnificent idea. The thought of Hartford Woman reaching out 28 years later using the current technology is something that I thoroughly support and will work with Kate anyway I can to help her make this the success that I enjoyed when Hartford Woman first launched.

I encourage you to connect with women you know throughout the Greater Hartford area and have them log on because every user will make a difference to the success of this venture. Your voice, your contributions and your thoughts will help shape this online publication and make blossom and grow.

All the success to you, Kate! I look forward to being the grandmother of every Hartford Woman."

Terry Gamer

***

Thank you, Terry, and thank you to all who are making Hartford Woman Online a great success!

NOTE: If anyone has a copy of the original Hartford Woman Magazine in Print we'd love to see it! Please let us know.

 

By Kate LaFrance

As the Publisher of Hartford Woman Online Kate is passionate about bridging the gap between the work-from-home and the office dwelling career woman in the Greater Hartford Area. She is open to new ideas and new friends from all of the towns and neighborhoods throughout CT.

Kate has 20 years of newspaper industry experience behind her doing everything but run the press! She's sold ads, designed ads, created ads, written editorial, taken photos, run departments, run managers and more. In the past 10 years, Kate has concentrated on becoming a marketing maven, Virtual Assistant business owner, internet marketing strategist and, now, online publisher.

If you'd like to get Kate and Hartford Woman Online behind your CT cause or business, send her an email and let her know - she will consider all offers that help women.

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